Feeling Under the Weather? Try Hibiscus Tea

December 21, 2011 hgrubbs Herbs

Hibiscus has been used in holistic medicine for many years as a cold remedy and diuretic. Since it has a good deal of vitamin C, it delivers antioxidants that can help you start feeling better. But that’s not all hibiscus is used for. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, the roots of this plant are used in various concoctions with the goal of curing ailments from hair loss to high blood pressure.

Although the plant’s root is mostly used in Ayurvedic medicine, many use the outer leaves of the flower to make a cold-fighting tea. One great thing about hibiscus is that it’s readily available. Depending on where you live, you might even have a plant growing in your own garden. If that’s the case, you’ll need ¼ cup of fresh hibiscus leaves (outer portion only) to make a cup of tea. Just place them in your cup and pour in boiling water. Let it sit for five minutes, and then drink.

If you don’t live in an area where you can grow your own hibiscus, you can easily buy some dried leaves for your tea. You might find dried hibiscus in the bulk section of your local health food store. Otherwise, you can buy it online. Since the dried version is condensed, you’ll only need 2 teaspoons of hibiscus leaves to make one cup of tea. Aside from that, it’s made the same way as with fresh leaves.

You can easily sweeten your hibiscus tea without affecting the cold-fighting properties. Just add honey or another sweetener. You can also add lemon for more of a fresh tasting flavor.

I first learned about the benefits of hibiscus tea when I was taking a few nutritional courses at Ashworth University. Ever since, I make it a point to have this tea whenever I’m feeling under the weather. It doesn’t work every single time, but usually I end up feeling better in a day or two. I like to make mine with honey and a squeeze of orange juice straight from the fruit.

Experts recommend that you avoid all herbal remedies, if you have a medical condition or if you’re pregnant or nursing. For the best effects, reserve this tea for whenever you feel a cold coming on. Then, you can drink it once or twice daily for 10 days. Of course, as with any herbal remedy, if you experience any type of negative reaction, discontinue use immediately.